Golden girl Richards leaves Ohuruogu in her wake

Christine Ohuruogu discovered once more yesterday that if she is to add the Olympic Games title to her world crown she will have to stop Sanya Richards.

At the final Golden League event of the summer in Berlin Ohuruogu and her British team-mate Nicola Sanders were wiped away by the American in a 400m which saw her win $500,000 (£250,000) for not losing a race in the six-meeting series. The Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva scooped the other half of the million dollar prize as she stayed unbeaten again.

Richards' absence from the individual 400m at last month's world championships in Japan - she had failed to make the US team after illness prior to their trials - meant the event was wide open. Ohuruogu took advantage by winning gold, with Sanders snatching silver. But since the Golden League has resumed Richards has been in a different class. Yesterday was the third time in nine days that she has lowered her fastest time in the world this year, striding along the home straight to win, unchallenged in 49.27, and confirming her position as the best in the world.

It improved her mark from Brussels on Friday night by 0.02, with Ohuruogu second in 50.40 and Sanders third in 50.70.

Ohuruogu was on the Richards' immediate inside in lane three yesterday but she never had the strength to stay with her.Richards broke fast, slowed along the back straight and then stretched away with 150m left to secure an impressive pay day. She was one of six athletes who shared the money 12 months ago and said: "I am really happy to win. I am proud of myself. I am so excited that I could win the jackpot for the second time. This time I will invest the money. . . and I will not spend everything."

Marlon Devonish was pipped to victory in the 100m, losing by 0.01 to the Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure who won in 10.14. His fellow Briton Rikki Fifton was a surprise third, breaking his personal best by 0.03 with a run of 10.17. Mark Lewis-Francis was last with 10.45.

Jo Pavey, who races against Paula Radcliffe in the BUPA Great North Run on Sunday week, lost out on second place by one second in yesterday's Hydro Active Women's Challenge 5k in London's Hyde Park. The Ethiopian Meseret Defar won in 15:08 with Benita Johnson, of Australia, beating Pavey in 15:28, and the Briton timed at 15:29.